Method of shaping and setting strap shoes



Aug.. 1, 1950 M. DODGE 2,517,293

METHOD OF SHAPING AND SETTING STRAP SHOES Filed July 29, 1949 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 METHGD or SHAPING AND SETTING STRAP snoss Milton L. Dodge, Newburyport, Mass. A Application July 29, 1949, Serial No. 107,549

4 Claims.

Strap shoes as they come from the making operations are more or less wrinkled in the strap portion, and particularly with shoes having open heels, the heel portion is likely to be spread lat erally. Because of the flimsy character of the I such shoes it has heretofore been be connected at the forward end of i this: 17 1 Dodge Patent No. 2,211,055, granted August, 13,

1940, for Method of Treating Shoe Uppers. How ever, by first engaging and pressing inwardly the rear upper portions at the heel of such a shoe and then wiping the strap portions forwardly while allowing them freedom to adjust themselves laterally of their lengths, they may be straightened out, after which they may be pressed to the desired final smooth contours. This may be done, for example, on a simplified machine of the general type shown in the Dodge Patent No. 2,271,682, granted February 3, 1'9 i2, for Counter Former, with, however, some modification of the inside form on which the shoe is placed, which will present a sufliciently large area for the engagement of the straps thereon when they are in smooth condition and ready for a pressing operation. a i

For a complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which r r t Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a forming and pressing machine showing an open heel strap shoe arranged thereon preparatory to a forming and pressing operation.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the shoe in pressing position.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a strap shoe before and after the pressing operation, respectively.

Referring to these drawings, the machine shown comprises a bracket l which may be attached to the forward edge of a bench or other support 2. At its upper end the support I has slidably mounted therethrough a tube 3 which carries on its forward end an inside presser form 4. As shown best in Figures 3 and i, this inside presser form may be provided with heating means such as an electrical heating unit 5, and an electric cord 6 by which energy may be supplied to this unit may extend through the tube 3 and with the terminals of the heating unit 5.

The inside form 4 is preferably higher, than the. form shown in the Dodge Patent No. 2,271,682, being outwardly extended at its outer forward edge as at I. This is for the purpose of presenting a suflicient area for engagement throughout the full length of the side straps ll] of theshoe, which in theirfinal pressed condition, as shown in Figure 6, commonly are inclined upwardly from their junctions H at their rear ends with the side wall portions i2 ofthe open heel shoe upper.

This unitcomprising the inner form 4 and the tubular support 3 is mounted for motion lengthwise of the tube? and such movement may be impartedthereto by the rocking of a lever l5 pivoted at [6 to a portion of the support I and connected through .a pivoted link H with 2. lug 18 secured to or forming part of the inner form 4. In" the forward position shown in Figure 1, the form 4 is positioned forwardly of the space between 2. pair of side presser members 26, which are carried at the upper ends of a pair of arms 2! fulcrumed at 22 on a bracket portion 23 extending forwardly from the support I. On moving the inside form 4 rearwardly it may be brought in between the members 20. Also arranged between the members 26 is a U-shaped wiping and pressing element 24, the mid portion of which is carried by a bracket 25 which is supported adjustable forwardly and rearwardly from a bar 26 passing through the support I and threaded for engagement with adjusting and securing nuts 21 at either face of the support I.

The side presser members 20 may also be heated as by electric heating units, if desired.

This mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in the Dodge Patent No. 2,271,682, with the exception of the somewhat different shape of the inside pressing form, but other portions of the Dodge machine, such as the wipers,

and their actuating mechanism, are omitted from this machine. The arms 2| and the lever l'5 may be swung toward or from each other in suitable timed relationship by means shown similar to that shown in the Dodge Patent No.

2,271,682 and consequently they have not been further shown herein.

In operation, the strap shoe'to be treated is applied to the inside form 4 while it is in advanced position out from between the side presser members 20, as shown in Figure l. The sides of the upper adjacent to the heel of the shoe are at this time normally flared outwardly and the straps are limp and droopy as shown in Figure 5.

When the shoe is thus positioned with the forward ends of the straps extending forwardly along the sides of the form 4 but generally out of contact therewith, the shoe and the form are moved rearwardly to bring the shoe into the space between the sides of the wiper 24, being moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4. The wiping action of the member 24 serves to bring the sides of the upper portions I2 inwardly toward the position shown in Figure 6 and brings the rear portions of the straps where they merge with the portions l2 at H into a more or less upright position. Further wiping action lengthwise of the straps while they are still sufiiciently free so that they may adjust themselves laterally of their lengths between the form 4 and the wiper, lifts the forward ends of the straps and arranges them along the side faces of the inner form 4 substantially as shownv in the dotted line position of Figure. 1 from the initial dropped position shown in full lines in this figure. The sides of the upper at E2 and the straps are then arranged in substantially the desired positions where they are lightly held by the light pressure of the sides of the wiper 24 thereon. Then the. side presser members 21 are brought inwardly from their open positions, shown best in Figures 2 and 3, to their closed position shown in Figure. 4 which produces substantial ironing pressure between the wiper 2'1- and the inner form 4 upon opposite faces of the shoe upper, including the straps, the heat and pressure of this forming operation tending to fix the shoe upper parts in the desired positions shown in Figure. 6, removing wrinkles from the parts and producing a degree of stiiTness thereto which tends to maintain them in the positions into which they have been ironed.

It will be noted that the wiper member 24, which may be of leather or a relatively thin sheet metal or other suitable material, produces the. desired wiping effect, lightly hold the shoe upper parts against the inner form until it is desired to apply relatively heavy ironing and fixing pressure, and acts with the heated forms to apply heat as well as pressure against the shoe upper parts when pressure is exerted by the outer presser members 2!! thereagainst.

When the pressing action has lasted a sufiicient length of time to set the upper materials, in the desired positions, the side presser members 2B are opened by swinging of the arms 2'! in the proper direction and the inner form 4 is moved forwardly, thus removing the shoe from within the wiper 24 so that its removal from the inner form 4 and the placement of an untreated shoe is facilitated.

While the operation has been described as ap plied to an open heel shoe, it may be applied as satisfactorily to one with a closed heel but provided with straps.

From the foregoing description of this method and a machine by which the method may be readily carried out, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. The method of treating a strap shoe which comprises wiping the straps forwardly from the heel end of the shoe while the straps are free to move and adjust themselves laterally of their lengths to substantially straightened condition, and then setting said straps in such adjusted position under heat and pressure.

2. The method of treating a strap shoe which comprises engaging and straightening up the side portions of the shoe upper adjacent to the heel and wiping the straps forwardly from said side portions While said straps are free to move laterally of their lengths to thereby smooth and straighten said straps, and then subjecting said side portions and straps to pressure from opposite side faces while being held in such adjusted conditions and while subject to heat to set said portions and straps in pressed positions.

3. The method of treating an open heel strap shoe which comprises engaging and straightening up the side portions of the shoe upper adjacent to the open heel and wiping the straps forwardly from said side portions while said straps are free to move laterally of their lengths to thereby smooth and straighten said straps, and then subjecting said side portions and straps to pressure from opposite faces while in heated condition.

4. The method which comprises placing a shoe with straps over a form, relatively moving said form and shoe and shoe outer pressing mechanism generally lengthwise of said straps into pressing relation, and then actuating said mechanism to press the shoe throughout the entire area of said straps against said form.

MILTON L. DODGE,

No references cited. 

